PORTLAND – After a frustrating first half and a tragic injury, Northwest peppered the nets for a 5-0 win at Warner Pacific Monday.
The Eagles posted 15 fruitless first-half shots before unleashing five goals on 16 shots in the second half.
NU lost starting forward Sarah Hommas in the second half with a major leg injury that will end her season.
The team responded with a renewed intensity.
"Obviously, today was much more about Sarah than anything," said NU Head Coach Bryan Chud. "We played well in the first half, just lacked the quality in front of the goal. When Sarah got injured, it impacted all of us. Before the game restarted, we focused our emotions on playing to the best of our abilities for Sarah. The response and the quality of play were impressive as we scored the four goals in seven minutes to put the game to rest. While we are happy with the result and the response and performance, our thoughts and prayers are with Sarah at this time, and the day is dedicated to her."
Callie Wright took a school-record 10 shots in the game, while Olivia Morris broke the NU record with seven shots on goal. Morris had eight shots, which ranks eighth in the NU record book, and Wright's five shots on goal rank seventh.
Jennifer Conner got the zero off the scoreboard with a goal in the 53rd minute, using an assist from Maya Lewis and starting a flurry of four goals in under seven minutes.
Conner and Callie Wright were credited with assists on a goal by Colette Liston less than two minutes later for a 2-0 lead.
Olivia Morris added a goal in the 58th minute, and Anna Lau put the Eagles ahead 4-0 in the 60th minute.
Northwest kept the pressure up but didn't score again until Wright found the net with an assist from Conner.
Conner ended the match with a goal and two assists, with Wright getting three points with a goal and an assist.
The team's 31 shots for the game rank tied for fifth all time. The 21 shots on goal are the fourth-best total.
Lewis and Liston had three shots each, with Liston putting three on goal and Lewis two. Lau, Conner, and Isabella Rocha also had one shot on goal.
In picking up her fourth consecutive shutout, Kierstin Patefield collected two saves.
Northwest improved to 3-0-1 in the West Division of the Cascade Collegiate Conference and 3-2-1 overall. The Eagles lead the division with 10 points.
The Eagles return home for Sunday and Monday contests at 1 p.m. against Corban. Corban is tied for second in the West points standings.
